Community News - Winter 2015-16

                                          

                                            How to Protect Yourself from Inequality               - by Susan Black



God-made is the opposite of man-made. You and I were created from the same dust and so no one should promote herself or himself over the other. Humans are souls attached to a physical being who has the capacity to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and live in the same land. I invite you to sit quietly for a moment and observe the movement of souls around you. Some of us tend to believe that we are unique and so we trust we are exclusive, irreplaceable, matchless. Indeed, to satisfy our ego, we tend to think those thoughts, however, we are one soul and our primary purpose, a gift given to us by God, is to seek out other souls, open your heart to her or him and enjoy the sweet taste of holiness exchanged between you.

Just last week, a friend said that she has a tendency to look at life through rose-coloured glasses. To some, that implies that she has a cheerful or optimistic point of view of things, but usually without valid basis. I thought about a book titled, “Women”, compiled by the Research Department of the Universal House of Justice, distributed by Baha’i Publishing Trust. It is an empowering little book, and I refer to it often so that I may look through rosy picture frames with confidence.

Listening to her speak, she is firmly convinced that the most recent manifestation of God, Bahá’u’lláh, has removed differences between men and women and has established harmony. His writings proclaim that disharmony has ceased, and announced solidarity and unity.

“I see great things happening around me,” she said. “I feel that I am living in a great place, surrounded by like-minded souls and sense that God has lifted the differences from between men and women.”

Later that week, I was watching the world through the lens of others, some the voices of news announcers and those seeking negative attention. I turned off the television and dedicated the time I had scheduled to it to my little women’s book. I opened it arbitrarily and landed on the following quote by ’Abdu’l-Bahá, “In proclaiming the oneness of mankind He taught that men and women are equal in the sight of God and that there is no distinction to be made between them.” I feel refreshed and released from my prejudice against those that bring harm to women. I don’t ignore the condition of the world in this space and time, but I draw hope and encouragement from God’s Words that it is a temporary phase, and that we are in the throws of our teenage years here on planet earth. I won’t always be here, on this earthly realm, but I can be assured that unity will be achieved.

Inequality is a mindset held by those who do not think as you do. By your belief in God’s life, your name, driven by your devotion to God, is written and set down by the Pen of the Most High in the Crimson Book, referred to as the Book of the Covenant, among others. You excel over men in the sight of God. You are a brilliant light, shining from within and expressing your kindness through your actions. By all means, all women and men are lights, however, you outshine them like a lighthouse beacon to that of a burning candle. There are still many women and men, some considered heroes and knights in their field, who are orphaned of the True One and have no share in His recognition, but you have attained and received your fill of God’s grace. You are protected from inequality by God’s promise of education and training.

“In this Day the Hand of divine grace hath removed all distinctions. The servants of God and His handmaidens are regarded on the same plane.” (From a Tablet – translated from the Persian and Arabic)